TWO

“I want more patience!” hollered Dee Dee Winters. “And I want it now!”

Stacy chuckled about Dee Dee’s choice. It was perfect.

“I pick self-control,” Jimmy decided.

Shawn nodded but didn’t laugh. “Little brother pick very good fruit,” he said. “I pick love—just like Stacy.”

Stacy felt her face grow warm. Shawn was looking at her. “Who’s next?” she asked.

Carly’s hand flew up. “Patience sounds good for me, too.” She looked at Dee Dee. “I wanna match my best friend,” she said.

“Joy sounds like a good one,” Eric said, his eyes twinkling.

“I think you already have that fruit,” Stacy said.

The kids agreed.

“Pick something you know you need. Something to improve on,” Dunkum suggested.

Eric thought and thought. “OK, I’ve got it. I’ll pick peace. I sure could use some of that.” He explained that his grandpa—who lived at his house—was going deaf. “Peace is a good fruit for me to have this year.”

Stacy thought Eric’s choice was real cool.

Dunkum raised his hand. “I’ll pick faithfulness,” he said. “Sounds like a good one for me.”

Abby spoke up next. “I’ll take joy,” she said. “And afterward, I want to give it away.”

The kids knew exactly what she meant.

“You can’t keep joy to yourself,” Stacy said.

“That leaves you, Jason,” Stacy said. “There’s still some fruit to be picked.”

“No.” Jason shook his head. “I’m not gonna do the fruit thing,” he said. “It’s silly.”

Stacy looked at Abby and shrugged her shoulders. The rest of the Cul-de-sac Kids were quiet.

“OK, that’s my idea,” Stacy said. “I’m finished.”

She turned the meeting back to their president.

But she felt strange toward Jason. Why didn’t he want to stick with his friends? What was his problem?